Methods and apparatuses for detecting the flow volume of a fluid using alternating vortices.
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1. A vortex sensor for detecting the flow volume of a fluid, the vortex sensor comprising:
a housing defining a housing cavity for the fluid to flow;
an obstruction supported by the housing, the obstruction mounted in the housing cavity, the obstruction perpendicular to the flow of the fluid and including a plurality of side edges configured to generate alternating vortices in the fluid; and
a flexible deflection sensor supported by the obstruction, the flexible deflection sensor having a longitudinal axis downstream of the obstruction, the flexible deflection sensor configured to be located between the alternating vortices in the fluid, the flexible deflection sensor including:
a flexible insulating substrate, and
a conductive material applied to the flexible insulating substrate, the conductive material having an electrical resistance which varies as the conductive material is bent.
14. A vortex sensor for detecting the flow volume of a fluid and for detecting the temperature of the fluid, the vortex sensor comprising:
a housing defining a housing cavity for the fluid to flow;
an obstruction supported by the housing, the obstruction mounted in the housing cavity, the obstruction perpendicular to the flow of the fluid, the obstruction including a plurality of side edges configured to generate alternating vortices in the fluid; and
a flexible deflection sensor supported by the obstruction, the flexible deflection sensor having a longitudinal axis downstream of the obstruction and configured to be located between the alternating vortices in the fluid, the flexible deflection sensor including:
a flexible insulating substrate, the flexible insulating substrate having a glass transition temperature generally below a range of approximate temperatures of the fluid, the flexible insulating substrate including a linear material, and
a conductive material applied to the flexible insulating substrate, the conductive material having an electrical resistance which varies as the conductive material is bent.
4. The vortex sensor of
5. The vortex sensor of
6. The vortex sensor of
7. The vortex sensor of
8. The vortex sensor of
9. The vortex sensor of
12. The vortex sensor of
15. The vortex sensor of
16. The vortex sensor of
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The present invention relates generally to flexible sensors and, more particularly, to a flexible sensor for measuring flow and temperature through detection of vortex shedding i.e., von Kármán vortex street.
Vortex frequency flow meters utilize the periodic vortex shedding of a blunt obstruction i.e., a bluff body located in the fluid and flow. The phenomenon exists that vortices are shedded in alternating opposing sides of the blunt obstruction or bluff body. Therefore, a so-called von Kármán vortex street is created by the vortices. The vortices remain active for a certain distance behind the obstruction in the flow before being dissolved due to viscosity. For certain obstructions there exists a relationship between the frequency of vortex shedding and the speed of fluid flow. In other words, the speed of fluid flow can be directly derived from determining the frequency of vortex shedding. Vortex sensors used for determining vortex sheddings may be used to identify other parameters of the flowing fluid.
Numerous methods and apparatuses have been designed for measuring vortex streets in order to determine the flow of fluid through piping. One apparatus is a thermal sensor i.e., hot wire. Thermal sensors measure cooling rates resulting from the passage of vortices across the bluff body and the sensor. Another apparatus implements a magnetic pick-up disk or shuttle-type sensing element which detects vibrations of the disk or shuttle element based on the pressure pulses of the vortex street. Several vortex sensors implement piezo electric crystals or piezo resistant systems as has been described in great detail by several references. Each of these systems has its own limitations, advantages, and disadvantages.
According to an illustrative embodiment, the present disclosure provides a vortex sensor for detecting the flow volume of a fluid. The vortex sensor includes a housing defining a housing cavity for the fluid to flow. The vortex sensor includes an obstruction supported by the housing. The obstruction is mounted in the housing cavity. The obstruction is perpendicular to the flow of the fluid. The obstruction includes a plurality of side edges configured to generate alternating vortices in the fluid. The vortex sensor includes a flexible deflection sensor supported by the obstruction. The flexible deflection sensor has a longitudinal axis downstream of the obstruction. The flexible deflection sensor is configured to be located between the alternating vortices in the fluid. The flexible deflection sensor includes a flexible insulating substrate and a conductive material applied to the flexible insulating substrate. The conductive material has an electrical resistance which varies as the conductive material is bent.
According to a further illustrative embodiment, the present disclosure includes a vortex sensor for detecting the flow volume of a fluid and for detecting the temperature of the fluid. The vortex sensor includes a housing defining a housing cavity for the fluid to flow. The vortex sensor includes an obstruction supported by the housing. The obstruction is mounted in the housing cavity. The obstruction is perpendicular to the flow of the fluid. The obstruction includes a plurality of side edges configured to generate alternating vortices in the fluid. The vortex sensor includes a flexible deflection sensor supported by the obstruction. The flexible deflection sensor has a longitudinal axis downstream of the obstruction. The flexible deflection sensor is configured to be located between the alternating vortices in the fluid. The flexible deflection sensor includes a flexible insulating substrate having a glass transition temperature generally below a range of approximate temperatures of the fluid. The flexible insulating substrate includes a linear material. The flexible deflection sensor includes a conductive material applied to the flexible insulating substrate. The conductive material has an electrical resistance which varies as the conductive material is bent.
According to a further illustrative embodiment, the present disclosure includes a method of detecting the flow volume of a fluid. The method comprises the step of providing a flexible deflection sensor supported by an obstruction. The flexible deflection sensor and the obstruction are mounted within a housing cavity defined by a housing. The flexible deflection sensor is located downstream of the obstruction. The flexible deflection sensor includes a conductive material having an electrical resistance which varies with an amount of bending of the conductive material. The method comprises the step of providing the flow of the fluid through the housing cavity. The method comprises the step of generating alternating vortices in the fluid. The method comprises the step of applying an electrical signal to the conductive material. The method comprises the step of measuring variation in the electrical resistance. The method comprises the step of analyzing the frequency of the variation to determine the flow volume of the fluid.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
The above mentioned and other features and objects of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicated corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present disclosure, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present disclosure. Although the exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the disclosure, in several forms, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed.
The embodiments hereinafter disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following description. Rather the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize its teachings.
Referring initially to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Obstruction 16 may also include a plate or include a flat surface facing upstream. Facing upstream is defined as towards the flow of fluid 9 or towards the upstream end 17 of housing 10. The front surface may have a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the flow of fluid 9, as is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,788,144 to Blackwell or U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,232 to Miller et al., which are incorporated by reference herein. It is envisioned that obstruction 16 can include any obstruction arrangement configured to generate vortices 20 or alternating vortices 20.
As illustrated, obstruction 16 is mounted in housing cavity 12. Illustratively, obstruction 16 may be molded with housing 10. In one illustrative embodiment, obstruction 16 may be molded as an integral part of housing 10. Obstruction 16 may also be injection molded during the definition of both obstruction 16 and sleeve 22 of housing 10. There are a vast number of materials that may be utilized in the creation of housing 10 and obstruction 16, such as several types of plastic, polymers, cross-linked polyethylene, polypropylene, high molecular weight polypropylene (HMWPE) and combinations thereof.
In an alternative embodiment, obstruction 16 is attached to housing 10 through any conventional fastening mechanism. Several mechanisms are available for mounting obstruction 16 to housing 10 and within housing cavity 12, such as threaded openings within the housing and corresponding threaded projections as part of obstruction 16.
As also illustrated in
In operation, when fluid flow 14 passes through housing cavity 12, obstruction 16 generates unsymmetrical alternating vortices 20 which cause alternating pressure distributions (illustratively defined as positioned on opposing sides of longitudinal axis 11) impacting flexible deflection sensor 18. Alternating vortices 20 exert force against opposing sides of flexible deflection sensor 18 causing flexible deflection sensor 18 to deflect or bend. Such deflection or bending is described as to force from a straight form into a curved or angular form. When first vortex 20a is shed, pressure distribution on flexible deflection sensor 18 changes. As described in greater detail below, alternating vortices 20a, 20b, 20c apply force to flexible deflection sensor 18 changing flexible deflection sensor 18 from a straight form into a curved arrangement. The shedding of alternating vortices 20 can create periodic lateral forces on flexible deflection sensor 18. It is envisioned that flexible deflection sensor 18 is thin enough that periodic lateral forces caused by alternating vortices 20 cause flexible deflection sensor 18 to bend as described above.
As previously stated, per obstruction 16, there is a relationship between the frequency of vortex shedding (as evidenced by the frequency of alternating vortices 20) and the speed of fluid flow 14. In other words, the velocity of fluid flow 14 can be derived from sensing the frequency of alternating vortices 20. As described in greater detail below, flexible deflection sensor 18 is configured to sense the bending, the frequency of the bending, and the amplitude of the bending caused by vortices 20.
Now referring to
Conductive materials 36 and 38 may illustratively be a two-part epoxy material, a thermoset adhesive, or a thermoplastic, and may each incorporate variable resistive materials such as graphite, carbon, and/or conductive ink. The variable resistive material may be used as a wetting, a gluing, a sticking, or an adhesive material. More particularly, the variable resistive material may include a carbon ruthenium to attach conductive materials 36 and 38 to substrate 30. Furthermore, conductive materials 36 and 38, including variable resistant materials such as graphite, may be used in combination with a binder. In one illustrative embodiment, the conductive materials 36 and 38 comprises a conductive ink including graphite in combination with a binder.
As previously stated, flexible deflection sensor 18 is configured to bend. Conductive materials 36 and 38 experience varying electrical properties in response to bending of the underlying substrate 30. In one illustrative embodiment, it is believed that the conductive ink containing graphite of materials 36 and 38 cracks or deforms as it is deflected or bent. As the conductive ink bends, the number of cracks and spaces therebetween is believed to increase, thereby predictably changing the electrical resistance. This change in resistance may be measured by the application of electrical signals.
More particularly, electronic measurements are made by running electric current through conductive materials 36 and/or 38. More particularly, electrical connectors 37 and 39 may electrically couple each of the conductive materials 36 and 38 to a controller or processor 42 (
Flexible deflection sensor 18 may also include segment conductors 40 attached to conductive materials 36 and/or 38. Segment conductors 40 may be made of silver, silver alloys, or other electrically conductive materials, such as conductive carbon-based compounds. The conductivity of segment conductors 40 remains essentially constant upon deflection. Therefore, segment conductors 40 provide electrical paths for electrical current that are in parallel with the electrical path provided by conductive materials 36 and 38. Segment conductors 40 act as attenuators and reduce the overall resistance of conductive materials 36 and 38. Illustratively, the segment conductors 40 may make the resistance versus degree of deflection more linear. Furthermore, segment conductors 40 may cause resistance to be more consistently repetitive at a particular deflection configuration.
As shown in
Generally speaking, configuration A is a static position that is substantially flat or straight. Static configuration A substantially is parallel to fluid flow 14 along longitudinal axis 11. As illustrated in
Similarly, the resistance of conductive materials 36 and 38 predictably changes when flexible deflection sensor 18 deflects in a second direction (i.e. bent configuration C) due to second vortex 20b or combination of alternating vortices 20a, 20b, 20c. At configuration C, flexible deflection sensor 18 has a predictable and repeatable resistance RC, which is substantially greater than resistance RA and which is distinguishable from resistance RB. Electronic measurement of the change of resistance of the conductive material reflects the amount of deflection (i.e., whether flexible deflection sensor 18 is in bent configuration C, bent configuration E, some configuration between bent configurations C and E, or greater than bent configuration E). The change from configuration A or configuration B to configuration C is measurable, predictable, and repeatable. Electronic measurement of the second change of resistance also reflects the frequency of alternating vortices 20. As previously stated, per obstruction 16, there is a relationship between the frequency of vortex shedding (as evidenced by the frequency of alternating vortices 20) and the speed of fluid flow 14.
The electrical resistance of flexible deflection sensor 18 predictably varies as conductive materials 36 and 38 are bent or deflected incrementally to any configuration between configurations A, B, C, D, and E as well as other configurations involving greater bending or deflection. The resultant electrical measurements can be compared to a predefined map of applicable flow characteristics to determine the speed of fluid flow 14 by measuring the frequency of alternating vortices 20.
In certain illustrative embodiments, the degree of elasticity of the flexible deflection sensor 18, possibly substrate 30, may vary in relation to the temperature of the fluid 9. Furthermore, it is envisioned that flexible deflection sensor 18, including substrate 30, has a glass transition temperature generally below a range of approximate temperatures of the fluid 9. Substrate 30 may include a linear temperature dependent material. More particularly, the degree of bending of deflection sensor 18 may be effected by the thermal characteristics of the deflection sensor material, and allow for more bending as the fluid temperature increases making the deflection sensor 18 less rigid and easier to bend. Inversely, as the temperature of the fluid 9 decreases, the flexible deflection sensor will become more rigid, and harder to bend.
While the period T1, and hence the frequency f1, is constant in
In certain illustrative embodiments, the resultant electrical measurements may be compared by processor 42 to a predefined map of applicable flow and temperature characteristics to determine the temperature of fluid 9 by measuring the amplitude A (magnitude of bend or deflection of flexible deflection sensor 18) caused by alternating vortices 20.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the spirit and scope of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.
Belz, Jeffrey John, Schmitt, Randall Paul
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Feb 03 2009 | SCHMITT, RANDALL PAUL | Masco Corporation | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 022213 | /0417 | |
Feb 03 2009 | BELZ, JEFFREY JOHN | Masco Corporation | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 022213 | /0417 | |
Feb 05 2009 | Masco Corporation | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Feb 17 2017 | Masco Corporation | DELTA FAUCET COMPANY | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 041288 | /0369 |
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